Metal stud



@et Z4, @3%. E. P. BURKEv 2,177,217?

METAL STUD Filed June 2, 1957 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 IVIETAL STUD Edmund P. Burke, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Pacific Portland Cement Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 2, 1937, Serial No. 146,032

5 Claims.

This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of a one-piece metal stud which may be fabricated in an inexpensive and eicacious manner from a single piece of plate or sheet y5v metal without `appreciable Waste and in such manner that the chords and webs thereof are integral and of such relative arrangement and construction as to provide exceptional strength and stress resisting qualities in consideration of size, 10 weight and material used, as well as to render the stud particularly well suited to metal lathing and many other uses in building constructions.

Another object of this invention is to provide metal studs of the character described wherein 15 a most eiiective resistance to bending and other distorting stresses in a light and comparatively simple construction is provided for by a plurality of X-shaped webs formed integrally with the chords, the X-shape serving to reduce the unsup- 20 ported length of and to materially strengthen said web members.

A further object is to provide a metal stud of the character described having chords of an angular cross section airording considerable strength and rigidity in consideration of lightness, size 20 and material used.

Another object is to provide a novel and eicient joint structure for securing or splicing several of the studs of this invention in end-ton end relation without distorting the chords and webs and so that a strong joint may be quickly and easily made.

I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred form of metal stud apparatus embodying my invention, subject, however, to modification, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawing: Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation showing a joint of studs of this invention and the particular construction of one form of stud under the provisions hereof,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane of line 2 2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a cross section through one of the chords taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the plane of line --l of Fig. l showing the manner of joining the studs,

50 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Fig.

1 showing a modified form of studs as when joined together in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on the plane of line 6 6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the plane of line 7-l of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the plane of line B-B of Fig. showing the manner of joining two studs.

60 One form of metal stud of this invention as (Cl. Y2-115) shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, is stamped from a single piece of sheet or plate metal and comprises like chords 9 and It and X-shaped web members l! formed integral with said chords. Each chord is of angular cross section and consists of a nat base rail l2 with which the webs are integral, a iiat side rail I3 somewhat narrower than the base rail and extending at substantially right angles thereto, and a flange lli formed integral with the outer edge of the side rail and 1ying substantially parallel with and over the oase rail, said flange being narrower than the side rail. Thus the chords may be said to be of channel form having their open sides o-pposed to one another and the iianges or sides (base rails i2) with which the webs are joined, considerably Wider than the opposite anges (flanges Ill).

This

construction aifords the strength of a full channel member of equal sides, with a saving in material and weight and aiords an easier joining of two studs end to end as well as better provides for nesting and packing of the studs for shipment and storage, and furthermore greatly facilitates the tying of metal lathes and other structural elements to the stud.

Each X-shaped web consists in effect of four short, straight web sections l5 radiating from a common joint or center portion I6 located centrally of the space between the chords. The outer ends of these web sections i5 are formed integral with the base rails` I2 of the chords. Each web section l5 is formed of arcuate cross section to define a rib ll between its longitudinal edges along which latter narrow and flat edge portions I8 are formed and are substantially co-planar with the base rails l2 of the chords, whereas the convex sides of the ribs il are disposed in outwardly spaced relation to the plane of said rails I2. This construction affords considerable strength and offers effective resistance to strains and stresses.

The reinforcing effect of the webs is enhanced by extending the ribs ll angularly part way across the base rails l2 and this also strengthens the chords as well as prevents a hinge action at the juncture of the webs and chords.

closely overlie the webs l I The resiliency of the metal makes possible the ready forcing of the spliced stud A into the splicing position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and aids in holding the spliced stud in close fitting relation to the studs to be spliced.

On the chords B between the Webs C are tongues D which are bent around edges of and lie against the base rails I2 of the two studs to be spliced as shown in Fig. 4, whereby to form a strong and rigid joint.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive a modified form of my invention comprises a stud made from a single piece of sheet metal to include chords 2G and 2l and X-shaped webs 22 joined to one another as in the rst described form of the invention. In this form the chords are channelshaped with the open sides facing one side of the studs, and the webs have flanges 23 whereby each straight web section 24 is of angular cross section as shown in Fig. 7. The flanges 23 are formed integral with minor chord flanges 25 that are located between the webs. Between the members 24% of each web are chord flanges 26 aligned with but spaced from the ends of flanges T15 distances substantially equal to the width of one of the web members 24. This arrangement of flanges on the webs and chords provides consderable strength and resistance to damaging strains and stresses, whereby a strong, rigid stud `1nay be inexpensively provided from a single piece of light gage sheet metal.

As shown in Figs. 5 andS a short spliced stud E is employed to join the ends of two of the studs proper. This spliced stud is identical with the studs proper except that it has no Chord webs, in that in the one case the ribs I'l extend into the chords and in the other case the web ,anges 23 are integral with the chord flanges 25 or vice Versa.

It should also be noted that with reference to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the flanges of the webs and chords are so arranged that a line drawn transversely across the stud at any point will inter- Sect at least four equal flanges, whereby to provide maximum strength in a direction transversely of the stud.

It is important to note that the chords and webs hereof provide between them a plurality oi large openings which are symmetrical on both sides of the longitudinal center line of the stud and have their centers equi-distantly spaced from one another on said line. By having the same spacing of said centers, regardless of sizes of the studs, the centers of said openings will align at the same predetermined equi-distantly spaced points throughout a wall, floor or like structure constructed of studs of the same or different sizes and therefore large uniform spaces 'are provided at readily determinable points for j accommodation of pipes, conduits and other Wall Icarried elements. Moreover, the X-shaped webs define substantially triangular openings smaller than the openings between the webs, but having the same spacing as the larger openings relative to one another and affording the same advantages, said triangular openings being primarily used for accommodation of bracing in wall and floor structures.

Another important feature of this invention is that the channeled chords provide for telescopically supporting and retaining connections and other structural elements, as shown in Fig. 4, without the use of extraneous fastenings or securing elements, or necessitating welding thereof.

I claim:

1. A one-piece metal stud comprising chords of channeled shape and wherein the open sides of said chords are opposed and the flanges deiining one side of the channel are wider than the opposed flanges and X-shaped webs formed integral with the wider flanges oi said chords, said Webs being provided between their longitudinal edges with ribs of arcuate cross section and which are of greater length than said webs and extend partially across said wider anges, said webs and chords defining between them openings having equi-distant centers on .a common line extending longitudinally of said stud.

2. A spliced metal stud comprising two studs mounted end to end and each comprising channeled chords, crossed webs formed integral with ,one another and said chords, and a splicing stud overlapping the ends of said first-named studs and having channeled chords corresponding to but smaller than the first-named chords and adapted to nest therewith and tongues bendable to interlock the splicing and first-named studs, said stud units being provided with openings formed between the web members, which openings are symmetrical on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said units.

3. A one piece metal stud comprising parallel channel chords, each channel including a narrow flange and a wider flange, the open sides of said channels opposing each other with the wider flanges in substantially the same plane, X-shaped webs formed integral with said wider flanges and connecting the same, and ribs of arcuate shape embossed in said webs, said ribs being of greater length than said webs and extending into said wider flanges.

4. A one piece metal stud comprising parallel channel chords, each channel including a narrow ange and a wider flange, the open sies of said channels opposing each other with the wider vflanges in substantially the same plane, X-shaped iwebs formed integral with said wider anges and connecting the same, and ribs of arcuate shape embossed in said webs, said ribs being of greater .length than said webs and extending into said wider flanges, said embossed ribs extending inwardly only from the plane of said wider anges and Webs.

5. A one piece metal stud comprising parallel channel chords, each channel including a narrow flange and a wider flange, the open sides of said channels opposing each other with the wider `flanges in substantially the same plane, X-shaped 

